Featured Mentor Serguei Kouchnerov
Los Angeles, California
Director/Animator/Producer of HybRoll Animation
Animation Mentor:
What inspired you to learn character animation?
Serguei Kouchnerov:
From a very young age, I've been enchanted by the magic of animation. I'm still fascinated how a very simple story or even just an idea of a story can be transformed with the mastery of animation into a captivating, emotional, and uniquely accessible experience. Like many high quality examples of other art forms, the magic of animation begins in the mind of its creator and once created it goes on living, reaching out to the generations to follow.
Unlike literature, animation does not require translation. This very unique and inspiring power of getting your idea across to an almost unlimited audience drew me to animation.
I've always liked to draw and was good at it. That gave me confidence to take a course in character animation organized by the leading animation studio in Kiev, Ukraine. I've been hooked ever since.
Animation Mentor:
What were the most important steps in your animation training?
Serguei Kouchnerov:
The ability to observe is invaluable and can be successfully practiced. Studying the surroundings and understanding how it works by breaking it down to the smallest details and then putting it back together on paper was the most important step of my early animation training.
Knowledge of the principles of locomotion, gravity and timing, the concept of weight, scale, and placement of an object are the fundamentals of animation. For a good animator, this knowledge is second nature and can only be obtained through relentless practice.
Animation Mentor:
If you could do one thing differently on your journey to becoming an animator, what would it be?
Serguei Kouchnerov:
One thing I wish I had additional training in is music. Musicians have a very deep sense of rhythm that can be helpful when animating.
Animation Mentor:
Where do you currently work and what are the projects you've worked on in the past?
Serguei Kouchnerov:
I am currently involved as an animation director in a production of a live-action/3D animated film. In December 2009, I completed a 4½ minute CG animated short film, The Hybrid Union, as creator/director/animator. Prior to that, I was involved as a director in the USA/Ukraine production of 3D animated feature films. I have over 13 years of experience of working at DreamWorks SKG where I was involved in many productions: Prince of Egypt, The Road to El Dorado and Sinbad, as a supervising animator; Over the Hedge, Madagascar 1&2, Bee Movie and Shrek 2 as a CG animator; Sinbad and Chicken Run (an Aardman/DreamWorks production) as a storyboard artist. Prior to my time at DreamWorks, I worked as an animator on several Disney feature-length animation films, including Fantasia 2000 where I also held the position of character designer for the The Tin Soldier sequence. Before this, I was a lead animator at an animation studio in Kiev, Ukraine, where I directed three short films, including The Log.
Animation Mentor:
Who is your favorite character that you've animated?
Serguei Kouchnerov:
My favorite character would be the one that was the most challenging to animate: “Ramses” from Prince of Egypt. This character was very dramatic and emotionally complicated. The character design, although being stylized, required a very realistic style of animation. Working on this film was a very memorable experience. Not to mention, it was the first feature production for DreamWorks SKG and I've always felt particularly privileged to be part of this very special project.
Animation Mentor:
What was your first animation job?
Serguei Kouchnerov:
I began my career as an animator at KievNauchFilm Animation Studio in Kiev, Ukraine, on the production of the short film How Peter Counted Elephants, which was directed by Alec Viken.
Animation Mentor:
Who would you consider your mentor to be in animation?
Serguei Kouchnerov:
The first animation mentor who had a significant influence on my professional development was an accomplished Russian animator Konstantine Cheken. I can't imagine how anyone who wants to become an animator can get by without studying an incredible legacy of an old Disney School and the work of animation legends like Milt Kahl, Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Wolfgang Reitherman, Mark Davis Ward Kimball, Eric Larson, Les Clark, and the list goes on and on…
Animation Mentor:
What do you enjoy the most about teaching at Animation Mentor?
Serguei Kouchnerov:
At a certain level of any professional development a feeling of collected knowledge and experience brings about a sense of responsibility, an obligation to share your mastery with people who will come after you and who have the same passion. I enjoy teaching at Animation Mentor because I feel fulfilled passing on my personal knowledge and experience to a talented youth who will excel in the art of animation even further.
Animation Mentor:
How is Animation Mentor different from other animation schools?
Serguei Kouchnerov:
A chance of sharing my professional experience with a worldwide group of students gives me a special thrill and that is why Animation Mentor stands out.
Animation Mentor:
What is the most rewarding part of having a career in animation?
Serguei Kouchnerov:
Animation allows me to have unlimited creativity. The best and most rewarding part of having a career in animation is that you are able to share the results of your personal creative achievements with a really broad audience.
Animation Mentor:
How do you stay current in animation?
Serguei Kouchnerov:
The amount of information out there related to animation is enormous and it is all ready for you, just a click away online. So, it takes a lot of net surfing to stay up to date.